Why Do Hard Things?

We’ve really missed blogging, so we’re excited to embark on a new four-part (for now) series on Why Do Hard Things? — an important question that we’ve thought about a lot lately. Let us know your thoughts!

We’ve all heard people say that God wants us “on fire” for Him. Maybe your youth pastor has talked about being “sold out” for Jesus or a conference speaker has challenged you to serve God with “total abandon.”

We’re used to that kind of talk. It’s almost cliché.

But has anyone ever told you that God commands you to do hard things? For some reason that sounds more extreme. Being “on fire” or “sold out” for God sound like positive emotional states where nothing can really get to us. Even serving God with “total abandon” doesn’t make us feel uncomfortable as long as we leave it general and vague. But “do hard things” sounds so — well, hard.

We don’t like hard things in our society, especially as teens under the influence of the Myth of Adolescence. We avoid hard things as much as possible. Unfortunately (or should we say, fortunately), there’s no avoiding them in the Bible.

Hard Things in the Bible

All of God’s commands in Scripture are hard. Of course, our tendency is to just say that God’s commands aren’t “easy” or that it’s only by His grace that we can obey any of them — and both of those statements are 100 percent true — but why can’t we ever come out and say that God’s commands are hard? When Christ commands us to love our enemies, why can’t we just call it what it is?

Everything God commands is hard. Repenting is hard. Forgiving is hard. Turning the other cheek is hard. Overcoming sin in our lives is hard. Honoring our parents is hard. Sharing the gospel is hard. Reading our Bibles is hard. We could go on.

Part of our hesitation to call things hard can be that we’re afraid to come across as unspiritual. After all, if we’re truly “on fire” for Jesus, shouldn’t it be easy for us to read our Bibles every day, say no to sin, and share the gospel with others?

But when we think that way we’re missing something huge that God wants to teach us about personal growth — and that’s what we want to talk about in this post.

The Way We Grow

In James 1:2, we’re told to consider it “pure joy” when we’re faced with challenges, trials, and obstacles, because they test our faith and makes us stronger. Think about that. The God who created you and loves you cares about your growth — and the way He has designed you to grow is through challenges.

It’s just like the way your muscles grow stronger when you work out and the way your brain grows new neurons when it is challenged. You grow stronger, in both character and competence, when you do hard things.

In order to do hard things we need to get over the idea that God’s love means He wants us to go through life with as little effort or discomfort as possible. This is similar to the mistaken notion that we don’t need to change because God loves us just the way we are. God does love us just the way we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He wants us to grow.

Of course, none of this is to say that God wants us to live joyless and pain-filled lives, but it’s a joy that’s rooted in more than our temporary circumstances, and at times pain is necessary in order to gain something of greater value.

A Radical Argument

The Rebelution makes what sounds like a radical argument. It’s not just saying that hard things happen and that you can benefit from them. It’s not even just saying that you have the ability to do hard things. It’s telling you that you should do hard things because it’s the best and only way to experience true growth in your life.

Can you think of any period of growth in your life (as a Christian, student, athlete, musician, etc…) that didn’t involve effort and even some level of discomfort? The truth is that all growth involves discomfort. Think of growing pains.

These are not a new ideas. We’re don’t want to reinvent truth. But we do want our generation rediscover what has always been true — and one thing that has always been true is that in order to grow we must do hard things. We must challenge and stretch ourselves, step outside our comfort zones and do something difficult. It’s how we’ve grown before, and it’s the only way we’ll grow for the rest of our lives.

Coming Up…

So why is it so hard to do hard things? If God commands us to do hard things and tells us that it’s how we grow, how can we refuse? The answer is that there is another player in this battle over our lives. We’ll look at that in Part Two.

About the Author

Alex and Brett Harris are the co-founders of TheRebelution.com and co-authors of Do Hard Things and Start Here. They have a passion for God and for their generation. Their personal interests include politics, filmmaking, music, and basketball. They are both graduates of Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia.

I’m writing it. See, I’m trying to start a local small group for Rebelutionary type youth, with next to no people, (4 or 5) and I was trying to figure out what we would discuss, what we would do, how we would do it, and how I (as a leader type who’s still balking at being a servant leader but knows it’s the right thing to do) am supposed to lead it without seeming bossy. So I had to try to come up with something to study/discuss. After reading your post and the 2 chapter excerpt you posted yesterday, I decided to start with ‘Do Hard Things’. Maybe it will spur us on to some big hard things as a team. Who knows?

Exciting, and something to pray about. Yes, maybe I will post, Emma. Thanks!

Sheila: That’s so exciting. In the next few months we’re going to be making some tools available to help rebelutionaries connect and collaborate with other rebelutionaries in their area — so we’ll be sure to let you know when that is available.

Heather Gundlach

Coming from a fundamental Baptist church and a family with parents who went to a strict Christian college, we have encountered many lives consumed with legalism. Some legalist Christians also do hard things; but they do them partly because they think that is what the Christian life is all about. But lately our church got a new pastor, who has taught us so much about grace, and how important God’s love is. He has helped us realize that every action in our life must be done out of love for God, and love for others. Even if we aren’t “on fire” for Jesus, the hard things we do must stem from our love and gratitude from what God has done. Doing hard things so that we can grow as Christians isn’t enough: our motivation for doing hard things should be out of genuine love and appreciation for God’s grace. God certainly does want us to do hard things and grow through them, but He wants us to do hard things because we love Him. Yes, He has lovingly designed us to grow through challenges, but those challenges won’t help us grow if we aren’t motivated to go through the challenges out of love for Him.

Heather: Wonderful point. You’re exactly right. Doing hard things is not about doing actions in an effort to improve ourselves in God’s sight. We do hard things, not in order to be saved or to make God love us more, but because we are saved and our desire is now to serve and glorify Him. And you’re right, apart from love, doing “hard things” is just noise and empty repetition.

You made a very good point. Just as athletes only get stronger by working harder, so do we, as Christians, only grow when we do what is hard. Going against the grain and stepping out of our “comfort zone” will help us develop spiritual muscle. I think that change and growth will take place in our hearts and will reflect on our visible lives, but we also must make conscious decisions during the day to do what is hard, but right. I am saying that doing what is hard, does not come “automatically” but through conscious efforts to improve ourselves through God’s grace.

Great to see you guys here more frequently now. Keep up the good work!

I love it when I check your blog and there’s a new post waiting for me to read! I’m so glad you both are back

I really liked this post because it was so focused on what really matters . . . you’ve been reminding us a lot to “do hard things” but almost vaguely . . . I know I can support your message when I see Scripture involved and see you connect your catchphrase with our heavenly Father.

Thank you so much for this article! I have been struggling with this idea for a while. I find that doing hard things all has to do with motivation. This, though, must be correct motivation, namely the love of God. If you try to do hard things for the sake of doing hard things, for the sake of self image (as Christ speaks of in Matthew 6), for the sake of anything but God’s love, you will be fighting a losing battle.

Wow, I just realize this ties in with a question I’ve been thinking about for a while: God has commanded us to obey (which is a hard thing in itself.) Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us here the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandment: for this is the whole duty of man.” Are we not called to obey Him whether we like it or not?

And about this time I realize that it soulds like you’re going to answer my question in part two of this series. Looking forward to it!

Andrew Z

Alex and Brett,

It’s awesome that you yourselves have been doing new, hard things over the past several months. We are also very glad to have you back more frequently to blogging. I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series!

In our church last month we were going through a series on growth and how it happens in our lives: it kind of turned out to be a ‘do hard things’ lesson from a different angle. One point that we talked about is how, particularly in the area of Bible study, it can definitely be a hard thing and sometimes even a drudgery — at the beginning. But when we get in the habit, when we train ourselves to be godly and to grow in the knowledge of God by inviting His Word into our lives daily, one way that it changes us is that it creates in us a desire to continue in its study, to continue in doing hard things. When we have this joy and this drive — motivation, as you wrote, that is rooted in the hope that we have in Jesus — it is easier to do hard things. It’s like turning the crank to start a motor-car engine; it is a hard thing that is not fun and seems pointless at the time, but pays off later.

‘Remain in me, and I in you, and you will bear much fruit,’ said Jesus.

I am already appreciating this series of posts! I can definitely see in my life that the hardest times have also been the greatest times of growth…the times I would not trade for anything…because it was then that I was forced to lean on God and not on my own understanding and strength.

And to echo what others have already commented, doing hard things is less of a mind battle when I have the right motivation. When I approach things out of love for God, I find myself saying “Yes, Lord, I should do this….because I love you and you deserve everything I have”. But when my focus is out of whack, the whole “you should do this” weighs down like a heavy burden that it was never meant to be, not because it’s really overly heavy, but because I’m looking at it the wrong way. Which in turn is usually a warning flag that my relationship with God needs some attention.

Also, thank you Andrew for the reminder that often we have to take the first steps to get the engine going!

Wow, thank you for posting this. It is so easy to find myself saying, “It’s too hard. I don’t want to.” But too often I forget that I can’t be a mere fair-weathered Christian. I’ve become far to comfortable in this world. Something is obviously wrong. Maybe I should get in the word more. Possibly one of the most important hard things in exsistence. But it is worth doing.

Looking forward to the next segment!

L East

This is an excellent message for all of us to hear! I have enjoyed reading Rebelutionary posts for a while now, they are so full of encouragement, wisdom and joy! Thanks for the time and effort it takes to run a site like this, and for the courage to do the hard things that God lays on our conscience. May God always give you the strength and perseverance to live in the center of His will, heeding His voice.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: 1-3

Elizabeth

Thanks guys. I needed that right now. I’m about to start a big “hard thing”, too. It’s always good to be reminded not only that we need to do something, but [b]why[/b] we need to do it.

Jessica

Alex and Brett,

Thanks so much for this post. It was realy encouraging. I am glad that you guys are going to be able to blog more, I realy get a lot out of your blogs and look forward to them.

I love it when you use scripture to back up what your saying. Its gives me something to study.

Jordan Diann

Awesome post guys. It’s so wonderful to see you posting again and encouraging us once more.

Wanted to point out, in the last paragraph you say, “So why is it so hard to hard things?” and I think you mean, “So why is it so hard to do hard things?”

R.M

That was not only an excellent post, but it also met me where I am right now… I cannot say that doing hard things is easy, (which is quite a contradiction,) and I’m not ashamed to say that I certainly struggle very hard WHEN doing hard things. However, I consistently remind myself about how neither being diligent or productive with these early years of mine can lead to an undisciplined and purposeless life.

I thought I’d quickly mention that I appreciated this statement one of you two made, which was: “This is similar to the mistaken notion that we don’t need to change because God loves us just the way we are. God does love us just the way we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He wants us to grow.” I know a close and dear relation of mine who, in hurt and bitterness, has insisted that we just accept the way they are, without them having to change their destructive lifestyle, much less forgive themselves and others for the harm that was done… My heart hurts very much for this person, and I love them– which is why I will not compromise when it comes to accepting and ultimately condoning the sin AND the sinner. This is actually a challenge for me, but certainly a good challenge…

thanks for posting this:)
it’s really helped clear alot of questions i had about y’alls website.
thanks again, and keep up the good work!

>Jade

Carolyn

Thank you.

I just returned from an amazing Bible conference about looking forward to His coming and what that means. And here I am at home sitting with pages of notes and brochures and what I’m told will be a lifechanging book in front of me. and yet…I’ve been here before. This is not the first excellent conference I’ve attended, not the first time I’ve been challenged and taught and given resources, not the first time I’ve thought that things would be…different…

And so it’s good to be reminded of the difference between doing hard things and feeling on fire. It’s easy to feel a fleeting surge of emotion that drives me to a brief obsession frenzy and then dies. It’s very hard indeed to take what I’ve been taught and live it day in and day out. Good intentions are so very easy to come by. I think the do hard things mantra is important because it is tangible. It has nothing to do with how I feel or how I don’t. It gives the power to put faith into action, and we learn from James the value of that….Anyways, all this to say that I appreciate this message very much. Thank you.

I haven’t been able to get ahold of you guys, so I’m trying to though a comment. I e-mailed awhile ago, but didn’t hear back. That’s not a big deal; I’m sure you’re very busy. (I do hope you got it though, because it had some cool news!) Then I PMed Brett a few days ago, because I can’t view the forum! Since I can’t view it, I can’t find out who are the moderators, so I can’t contact them about my problem. So I tried to PM Brett, but he hasn’t read my PM yet.

No rush, but I’m really missing the discussions on the forum, and am wondering what’s up. If you check your inbox, Brett, I explain what I can and cannot see.

Do I sound ornery? I really hope not. I’m not sure why I can’t view it, and I’m really sorry if I’m being a bother.

>>>In order to do hard things we need to get over the idea that God’s love means He wants us to go through life with as little effort or discomfort as possible. This is similar to the mistaken notion that we don’t need to change because God loves us just the way we are. God does love us just the way we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He wants us to grow.does love me right where I am, but He also wants me to grow! Thanks so much for this encouraging post – I can’t wait to read more!

“This is similar to the mistaken notion that we don’t need to change because God loves us just the way we are. God does love us just the way we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are.”

I love the way you phrased that. The way God’s love works is so beyond our human comprehension.

Thanks for posting again. I need those reminders to do the hard thing, and to grow even when it isn’t comfortable. This blog is a huge blessing to me! Thanks!

Alex

Bravo!
Keep up the encouraging word(o:

Quinton

You guys are doing a great job on this website and on all the posts. This was awesome! Keep up the encouraging work and press on!

We’ve missed you blogging too!
Excellent post, thank you for the reminder.

Growing up in a Christian home and learning all the “right answers” it gets easy sometimes to spout off statements that make it seem as though it is easy for us to get up early and read our Bible, as though it is pure enjoyment to die to ourselves every day. Often we can discourage new believers or seekers with our fake enthusiasm, making it seem to them that all the actions of our Christian life come easily to us. If only we could be honest with ourselves and say hey, you know what? I do have a hard time actually reading my Bible and actually honoring my parents every day.

just a little tidbit I thought of with the part about joy in ‘the way we grow’, is that without pain, we can’t truly experience joy. Just like without cold or darkness we could never really understand the meaning of heat and light.
What you said pretty much sums up to that, but not in those words really so I thought I’d share that thought with you.

Alex and Brett, I want to thank you so much for this post. I have been needing it. Hard things have come in my life and this post helped do two things. One, it reaffirmed that God does have a purpose in this; that I will grow from it. And second, it helped me realize that admitting it is hard is okay…and it doesn’t make me any less of a person or lessof a Christian.

This concept of doing the hard thing is the everyday reality of most young people here in Asia, especially in third world countries.

Can you help us pray for some of these tough situations?
1. A girl named Rizza, just in the first semester of her first year in college, is forced to quit school so that she can work as a child tutor to help provide for her parents. Her mom is pregnant with her 10th sibling and her dad is a farmer. She just recently came to know Christ in a personal way.
2. Another is Manilyn; same level in college as Rizza but with a different reason for stopping. Her 2 younger brothers got sick and it’s hard to stay away from her family. Transportation costs keep her also from going to school everyday.

May I ask, what more can teens like them do? Thanks for praying.

Savana

This really makes sense. We cannot grow without doing some hard things. If we just sat around, our mind and body wouldn’t grow. Kind of like how if we don’t read our Bibles, our spirit won’t grow. We have to do things to grow, we can’t expect it to just happen. Great article.

‘Do Hard Things’ is and amazing book! I just started it today and i am really enjoying it. Thanks so much for spreading the word. Teens really need to hear what you guys have to say, so keep up the good work! Now, I’ll do my best to spread the word too.
God Bless!

As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you

james k.

“hard things” and “personal growth”.

those sound like our culture’s success myth rather than following Christ. btw, why care about filmmaking by youth? is that a hard thing like purity, etc. (1 Tim 4:12), or is it an achievement that’s really cool to look at and show off?

it seems like “do hard things” is a rather palatable message in our culture (one where secular youth are ever more active in society) than “be Christ-like” or something that genuinely counters the prevailing culture, the culture that likes success stories, like movies and books made by teens.

Megan H.

Thanxs so much i really needed to read this! i’m going through some though times
with my dad and needed some encouragement

Luke Damkoehler

Hi,
My mom got me your book “Do Hard Things”. I am 11 years old, so I am almost a teenager. She bought it at a homeschool confrenss. A lot of other people did too. It real made me feel good to know that a lot of other people are endevering to not just meat the low expectations. I am going to get your news letter when my dad gets my e-mail working tonight. I thank you for getting this group of like minded people together.

HI,
im Harra im actually from cebu im 12 yrs old …There was a youth group who shared the book “DO HARD THINGS” i was really eager to buy that book but it was like real expensive but a great thing happened the next…i was out of budget and had no money… after few days while i was searching for a book in the library i was totally SHOCK guess what? I FOUND THE Book i was so all like WHOA amEN!!! i really found the book… so i borrowed it and im actually still reading it now..The book is really interesting!!..I really like how you guys promoted this book.. but all i could say is… I’d really hope you’ll spread more to other people the WORD OF GOD ill pray for you guys i really hope you can replay to me in yahoo mail…- Harra_Jessa – thank you so much….
HArra Go 😀 God Bless you guys…

Hannah Dear

Hi! I’m a homeschool girl form Ohio. I just started to read you book Do Hard Things today. I love it. I am only ten ,but I think I probably need to do more.

Connie

I’m a youth pastor with the same vision as yours (as close as I can figure at least through your books,blog, etc.). Our youth group isn’t even called a ‘group’ but a youth ministry. I’m so thankful for your ministry because for years I have felt very alone in this cause. I only know of one other youth ministry that teaches this mindset & it’s 3 hours away! Is it possible in any way to find out if there are other like-minded ministries in central Indiana that don’t babysit youth or have a teen social club, but a training & equipping grounds for youth to use their gifts now? We have a dance/drama team that is awesome reaching out to teens & every where we go people say they’ve never seen anything so powerful for teens to invove themselves in ministry & I’m thinking, ‘why not?’ We can’t wait until they’ve been through college to show them their potential. They need to see & use it now. Thanks again!

Celia

Hey,
I’m Celia. I’m almost 13 and my Mom got me your book just last week. I’m so glad that you wrote that book, it really inspired me and it’s really interesting. It’s really reminded me of the low expectations of this generations! Thank you SOOOO much for writing this book!!!!!!!!! It was SUCH an encouragement to me!!!!
=)

Sawyer

HI
I’m Sawyer and i’m almost 14 and the book encouraged me to speak to others about Christ. Thanks for the book it was great!!

Matthew

Great Great Great read I enjoyed it a whole lot!

Thanks Alex and Brett

Cristine Fields

Awesome and much needed advice. Thank you for giving me a new perspective. I enjoy learning. I can learn to enjoy challenges also. God Bless and Thx! Cristine

Lionheart

Godspeed you, Alex and Brett. Your influence on my life has made me ecstatic. Your book has challenged me to be a fire for God and one who tries things that are hard, but sensible.

Rachel

Is it possible to do hard things by setting godly standards for yourself? Not just the clear ones like tatoos, drinking.. etc, but the gray areas? Areas like language, and music?

I’ve been struggling with this so advice would be great!

Thanks for your amazing ministry!

Christopher

I’ve been trying to answer this question for a long time by myself, but I couldn’t do it. This helped a whole lot. Thank you.

You are amazing!

Savannah “Savy” Kyne

I love being able to read and understand this stuff… it’s just like having a built-in pastor!

I’ve been browsing online greater than three hours nowadays, yet I by no means found any fascinating article like yours. It’s beautiful worth sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet shall be much more useful than ever before.

hey, just started reading the book today! the beginnings great. Soon as i knew the link to the website, i joind, really wan’t to get into this stuff!

Dave G.

About 2 or 3 years ago, I had a real life exp. of the importance of hard things (and mind you, that I never even heard about Alex And Bret before this). I had to go to a boarding school for a year in Northern Vermont. The most trying things were; first, my home sickness. I have NEVER been away from my family ever since I was born. I always knew that I would come home. This time I thought I would freeze to death before I got back home. Mind you, again, that I’m a Floridian, so the cold and I have an agreement to disagree. So the weather was another thing that tested me. Now it wasn’t as bad as Alaska but it was still pretty bad. The Last thing that tried me was the system that was in place. It was a simple task, but it was hard in the fact that I didn’t usually do those things.
I’m proud to say that I survived. After a year and a few days I came home successfully completing the program (it came with my education). I didn’t graduate High school though. I have one more year to go. But, I digress, the point is that During the time I was there, I viewed it as crewel and WAY too difficult. But, now I see that if I looked at everything lightly (in the sense that this isn’t THAT bad), I would have severely enjoyed myself much more. It all depends on our attitudes on how we preform in life. If we have a crappy attitude then our lives will reflect that thought pattern.
So, How about we look at everything as if we don’t deserve all of what we are given.

Elliott Byrum ~[,,_,,]=3

I completely agree with what this blog says. In the story of the rich young ruler, Jesus commands him to “give away all that you have and come with me.” I feel like Jesus isn’t just talking to a rich young ruler there, but to everyone. If we are to pursue the Gospel with “full abandon”, we have to let go of the things of this world. Hey, if I told you that being a Christian meant living in total comfort and not having to do any hard stuff, I’d be lying in every sense of the word. In fact, we are called to go out and do hard things in the name of Jesus Christ. And we have the potential to do so.

So why don’t we?

Colette

Hello,
I’m French and I’ve been discovering that site two years ago, but .. i soon forgot it. Yet I suscribed ti the newsletter and I read one that morning.
So just a little question to all of you : everything you do is really great. But you’re all together … how can you do hard things when you hardly have a personal relationship with God and many doubts , no real friends, very timetaking studies and when religion is just for everybody an old thing you just believe in beacause you’re to shy to oppose you parents behaviour ?

I’m agree with most everything you say, but I’m too lazy, alone and sceptical to do it.
I’m not searching apologies, but i know it won’t work in my life.

Colette

PS : sorry for the mistakes, I forgot to read the post again before send it …

Nik

Loved how you pointed out that we should thank God for ALL our blessings, even the ones that come as challenges. In my opinion, that is the key to being a beacon of light in a dark world: looking at challenges as opportunites, not hindrances. That is something every Christian in this day and age must master.

Dylan

The whole “do hard things” has gone way too far. I go to a fundimentalist christian school, and this whole “do hard things” has turned into a drug fuled, mad sprint that has forced us kids to grow up too fast. I personally have become dependant on perscription amphetimine drugs due to this whole slavery mantallity. People mix caffiene with adderall or other type of ADHD super stimulants just to keep up with all of the expectations that are pushed on us. If you cannot do it all without loosing controll, simply don’t do it. This is my message: Kids, don’t do hard things unless you really want to. Be a kid, have some fun, make some mistakes, enjoy this time of little responsibility and get ready to take responsability when you are an adult.

Nik

I’m sorry you feel that way, Dylan. But hey, just because you had some bad results doesn’t mean we all do, and you don’t have to insult what we believe because of it. Besides, I’ve got a question for you: if you hate the whole “do hard things” thing so much, why are you on this website anyway? Hmm…

Alex

doing hard things doesn’t mean doing something huge like trying to do a school project every 2 hours or something like that. It means doing something simple as well as you can do it. Example: you get your homework and you have optional extra credit. do the extra credit as well along with the homework and get help.